Stamp dispenser

ABSTRACT

A stamp dispenser having a wrap-spring clutch for selectively coupling a motor to a stamp pay-out mechanism is provided with a solenoid actuator for pivoting a control member for operating the clutch. Escapement means are provided so that only one stamp is dispensed per actuation of the solenoid.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,792,808 Neff et al. 1 Feb. 19, 1974 [5 STAMP DISPENSER 3,292,834 12/1966 Beck 226/134 [75] inventors: Floyd SJMLLOS Altos; Harry 3,145,890 8/1964 Gordonpetal 226/127 x Assignee:

Galin, Mountain View; John B. Riddle, Los Altos Hills, all of Calif.

Micro-Magnetic Industries, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.

Filed: Jan. 5, 1973 Appl. N0; 321,357

US. Cl. 226/145, 226/146 Int. Cl B65h 17/44 Field of Search... 226/127, 129, 134, 143, 144,

References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS Flubacker 226/134 X Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Assistant ExaminerGene A. Church Attorney, Agent, Sutton ABSTRACT 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures or Firm-Limbach, Limbach &

PATENTEOFEB 1 9 :974

SnEEI 2 OF 2 v1 STAMP DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a stamp dispensing apparatus, and more particularly, to stamp and ticket dispensing apparatus having means for preventing dispensing of more stamps or tickets than the purchaser or user of the apparatus is entitled to.

Automatic machines for dispensing stamps and tickets have become quite popular and are used in post offices, by commercial establishments and others. Typically, when one desires stamps, the coins or currency corresponding to the value of the stamps desired is inserted into a currency validator and the correct number of stamps is then provided by the machine.

Such stamp dispensing devices are, in general, fairly straight-forward in their general operation. A motordriven stamp carrier transports the selected number of stamps held within the dispenser out of an exit port. For each one of the selected number of stamps, the stamp carrier is rotated a sufficient angular distance so that one stamp is paid out. The user then tears off the stamps from the remainder of the supply roll held within the dispenser.

One presently available stamp dispenser utilizes a wrap-spring clutch mechanism made by Precision Specialties, Inc. of Pitmar, N.J., for selectively coupling the stamp carrier with a rotary drive source. vSpring or wrap-spring clutches are well-known and frequently utilized in applications such as stamp dispensers. The spring-clutch utilized in the above-referred to stamp dispenser is similar in operation to the one described in U. S. Pat. No. 3,373,851

A helical spring is coaxially aligned with a drive rotor and a stamp transport rotor. At one end, the spring is secured to the stamp transport rotor. When the drive rotor is rotated by a motor, the spring winds tighter about the drive rotor thereby providing positive coupling between the drive and stamp transport rotor.

To disengage or decouple the drive and stamp transport rotors, the spring is unwound or loosened slightly. This increases the diameter of the spring and enables the drive rotor to rotate freely of the spring and the 7 stamp transport rotor. So long as the spring is in this loosened state, the stamp transport rotor remains stationary and decoupled from the rotary drive source.

In the stamp dispenser referred to previously, a rachet wheel connected to the other end of the wrap spring is provided to selectively loosen the spring to disengage the drive rotor fromthe stamp transport rotor. A pivoted clutch control arm is biased to follow the outer circumference of the rachet wheel. When thev control arm engages one of the rachet teeth, thereby fixing that end of the spring, the spring is partially unwound from the surface of the drive rotor and the stamp transport and drive rotors are uncoupled. Thus, when no stamps are being dispensed, the control arm is in engagement with a rachet tooth.

When a stamp is to be dispensed, an actuator, typically a solenoid pivots, against the force of the bias, the control arm away from the rachet wheel and away from engagement with the rachet tooth. When this happens, rotation of the drive rotor causes the spring to windup and couples the stamp transport rotor to the drive rotor as explained above.

LII

The actuator is only temporarily energized. Thus, after the solenoid is de-energized, the biasing means forces the control arm back onto its rachet-wheel following position. The length of time of the energization period of the actuator is so short relative to the rotational velocity of the rotary drivesource that under normal circumstances the control arm re-engages the rachet wheel before the next subsequent rachet tooth has rotated past the control arm. Under normal circumstances, the control arm then engages the next rachet tooth which, in turn, loosens the clutch spring and disengages the stamp transport rotor from the rotary drive source. Under normal operating conditions, for each stamp dispensed, the actuator is energized one time, and the stamp transport rotor is rotated one rachet tooth.

Unfortunately, the stamp dispenser described above can be cheated by a stamp purchaser, either accidentally or purposefully. It ispossible to rotate the stamp transport carrier more than the distance of one rachet tooth for a given energization of the actuator and thus dispense more stamps than intended.

During the brief period when the solenoid actuator is energized, typically approximately 50-70 milliseconds, during which time the control arm is out of engagement with the rachet wheel and the stamps are transported out of the dispenser by the stamp transport carrier, it is possible to remove more stamps than paid for.

If, during this energization period, the user takes hold of the leading edge of the stamp as it comes out of the dispenser and pulls in the direction in which the stamp is already going, it is possible to over-ride the rotary drive source and pull out a plurality of stamps before the energization period is complete and the control arm is returned to a position following the rachet wheel, engages the next rachet tooth and uncouples the stamp transport carrier from the rotary drive source.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved stamp dispensing device wherein only the selected number of stamps is dispensed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved stamp dispenser which is less susceptible to being cheated. ,1

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved stamp dispenser wherein only onestamp can be dispensed per energization of the clutch actuator.

In accordance with the present invention, an escapement mechanism .is utilized to insure that only one stamp is dispensed per energization of the clutch actuator. In particular, a bifurcated clutch control member serves as the escapement mechanism and is arranged so that when the solenoid actuator is energized and one arm of the control member isout of engagement with the rachet wheel, the other arm is in engagement with and follows the circumference of the rachet wheel. If an attempt is made to over-ride the stamp carried during the energization period, the second arm engages a rachet tooth thereby uncoupling the stamp carrier from the drive rotor. In this manner, it is not possible to overrotate the stamp transport carrier and pay out more than a single stamp per energization period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view, partially in section, of a stamp dispensing device in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view, partially in section, of the improved clutch and escapement mechanism of the present invention viewed from the direction opposite of that in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the clutch mechanism of FIG. 2 taken in a direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4A is an exploded view, partially in section, of the wrap-spring clutch of the present invention; and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of one part thereof.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of another part of the stamp dispenser of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION- OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, stamp dispensing device includes a stamp holding station 12, a motor or drive source 14 and a stamp pay-out mechanism 16. A counter 18 for keeping a running total of the stamps dispensed is also shown, but does not form a part of the present invention. A

A roll of stamps 20 is mounted upon a hub 22 which in turn is rotatably mounted within a stamp housing 24 to a vertical support plate 26. The stamp housing 24 includes a door 28 hinged at 30. The door is kept closed by releasable door latches 32. Stamps from the roll 20 pass over guide wheel 34 and under a guide member 36 to the stamp pay-out mechanism 16.

Motor 14 includes a field winding 38 and a rotor 40. The rotor 40 is suitably coupled through a gear train (not shown)to a drive gear 42 (FIG. 2). The gear train is supported within a housing 44 which extends behind the vertical support plate 26. A window 46 is provided in the vertical support plate 26 to enable the rotor 40 to be coupled to the gear train.

Details of the stamp pay-out mechanism 16 can best be understood by additionally referring to FIGS. 2 4. A principal partof the stamp pay-out mechanism 16 is the wrap-spring clutch 48. The wrap-spring clutch includes a drive rotor 50 and a stamp transport rotor 52 rotatably supported on a shaft 54. A helical spring 56 is coaxially aligned with and supported upon reduceddiameter portions 58 and 60 of drive rotor 50 and stamp transport rotor 52, respectively. One end 62 of the spring 56 is secured to the stamp transport rotor 52 by providing a small hole extending radially inward in the stamp transport rotor 52 into which the end of the spring 56 is inserted. Likewise, the end 62 of spring 56 also extends radially inward.

' The other end 63 of the spring 56, which extends radially outward, is secured to an annular member 64 which consists of two integrally formed parts, a spool portion 66 and a rachet wheel portion 68. The rachet wheel has a plurality of spaced-apart rachet teeth 70 along its outer circumference. The distance between each tooth 70 is related to the, size of the stamps dispensed.

Cooperating with the rachet wheel 68 is a control member 72. The control member 72 is a generally bifurcated structure with a first arm 74 and a second arm 76. The control member 72 is pivotally mounted at 77 and movably connected at 78 to the core or plunger 80' of a solenoid actuator 82. The solenoid actuator is connected by any suitable means to the vertical support plate 26.

A bias spring 84 maintains control member 72 pivoted about 77 so that the first arm 74 engages and is free to follow the circumference of rachet wheel 68 while the second arm 76 is out of engagement with the rachet wheel 68. Then the solenoid actuator 82 is energized, the core is drawn with the solenoid coil 82 against the force of the spring bias 80. This pivots the first arm 74 out of engagement with the rachet wheel 68 and pivots the second arm 76 in circumferentially following engagement with the rachet wheel 68 as indicated in FIG. 2 by the dotted lines.

In operation, rotation of the drive rotor 50 by the motor 14 causes winding and hence tightening of the spring 56 about the drive rotor 50 and the stamp transport rotor 52. The stamp transport rotor 52 is then coupled with the drive rotor 50 until the first arm 74 of control member 72 engages a rachet tooth 70 of rachet wheel 68 stopping further rotation of the rachet wheel 68. With the other end 62 fixed to the stamp transport rotor 52, the spring 56 unwinds until the drive rotor rotates freely of the stamp transport rotor.

A stamp carrier spool 86 is coaxially disposed over the outer surface of stamp transport rotor 52 as well as the spool portion 66 of the annular member 62. The stamp carrier 68 is provided with a plurality of spacedapart rows of teeth 88 for engaging the perforations of the stamp roll 20. As with the case of the rachet teeth 70, the spacing of the rows of teeth 88 corresponds to the size of the stamps dispensed.

The-stamp carrier spool 86 is provided with a notch 90 into which a pin 92 extending from the rachet wheel 68 of annular member 64 fits (FIG. 4A). Therefore, the stamp carrier is always rotated when the stamp transport'rotor 52 and annular control member 62 are rotated. This arrangement permits limited movement of the stamp transport rotor relative to the pin 92 and, therefore, the annular member 64, enabling unwinding of the spring 56.

A pair of guide blocks 94 and 96 have curved surfaces 98 and 100 respectively for cooperating with the stamp carrier spool 86 to guide the stamps 20 out of the dispenser 10. The blocks 94 and 96 are placed so as to define a narrow exit port 100 through which the stamps leave the device.

When the solenoid actuator is energized,-typically for I a period of time of 50-70 milliseconds, the first arm 74 is pivoted away from the rachet wheel 68. This enables the drive rotor 50 and stamp transport rotor 52 to be through the exit lenoid actuator 82.

user attempts to pull the stamp strip 20 as it comes out of exit port 100, the second arm 76 engages a sprocket tooth 70 to uncouple the stamp transport rotor 52 from the drive rotor 50 before more than one stamp is dispensed. With the two arms of the control member 72 thus arranged as an escapement mechanism, it is not possible for more than one stamp to be dispensed for each energization or activation of solenoid 88.

The stamp carrier spool 86 is held in place by a cam wheel 102 which is supported upon and secured to the shaft 54. In cooperation with the outer circumference of the cam wheel 102 is a microswitch 104 (FIG. 1) which is closed by the cammed surface once for each stamp dispensed. The microswitch 104 forms a part of the stamp dispenser control system which is not shown and which is not important for an understanding of the present invention.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 4A and 5, a ball stop mechanism 106 is provided to insure that the stamp carrier can only be rotated in a direction to dispense stamps out of the machine, e.g., to prevent backward rotation. A ball 108 is held between the outward face of the cam wheel 102 and a clutch support plate 110, which has not been shown in FIG. 1. A hole with a diameter slightly smaller than that of the ball 108 is provided in the plate 110. A spring clip 112 attached to the outside of plate 110 maintains the ball against the face of wheel 102.

Along the outer face of the cam wheel 1 )2 is a sequence of gently rising slopes 114 followed by steeply falling slopes 116. There is one gentle slope and one steep slope for each stamp dispensed.

As the stamp carrier spool 86 is rotated, the ball 108, fixed in position in its hole in the support plate 110, is forced outward against the force exerted upon it by the spring clip 112 by the gently rising slope 114.

Just as a stamp is almost paid out of the dispenser 10, the cam wheel 102 has rotated to the point where the ball 108 passes over the edge of the gentle slope 114 and quickly falls down the steep slope 116. In this position, it is not possible to rotate the stamp carrier 86 backwards because of the combination of the steep slope of 116 and the force of the spring clip 112. But since the ball 108 rests now at the beginning of the gentle slope 114, the ball stop mechanism 106 permits forward rotation of the stamp carrier 86 when the next stamp is dispensed.

Solenoid actuator 82 can be replaced by other suitable actuator means such as a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator.

Although the above described embodiment of the invention is a stamp dispensing device, it should be understood that the present invention is applicable to the dispensing of other items such as, for example, tickets, insurance policies, or any other coiled or rolled items where it is desired to insure proper pay-out. Thus, for the purposes of this description of the invention and the following claims, the term stamp is intended to cover other such items.

We claim:

1. In a stamp dispensing device including means for holding a plurality of stamps, a drive motor, a stamp transport rotor, a drive rotor coupled with said motor, a shaft for supporting said drive and transport rotors about a common axis and awrap-spring clutch for sea. a helical spring co-axially aligned with said drive and stamp transport rotors, having one end secured to said stamp transport rotor and wherein rotation of said drive rotor tightens said spring about said drive and stamp transport rotors thereby coupling said drive and stamp transport rotors;

b. an annular member axially aligned with said rotors and said spring and having a plurality of rachet teeth upon the outer circumference thereof and wherein the-other end of said spring is secured thereto;

c. a pivotally mounted control member having first and second arms, said control member being biased to slidably engage said first arm with the circumference of said annular member and to have said second am out of engagement with the circumference of said annular member; and whereby engagement of said first arm with one of said rachet teeth causes said spring to loosen thereby uncoupling said drive andstamp transport rotors;

d. an actuator comprising a solenoid having a movable core;

e. means for connecting said control arm to said movable core such that when said solenoid is momen tarily energized, said first arm is pivoted, against the force of the bias, out of engagement with the annular member ra'chet teeth allowing coupling of the drive and stamp transport rotors, said bias returning said first arm irito slidable engagement with said annular member after de-energization of said solenoid and, upon engagement with the next rachet tooth, causes de-coupling of said drive and stamp transport rotors; and

f. wherein energization of said solenoid causes said second arm to pivotand slidably engage the circumference of said annular member and, if not pivoted back to its original position upon engagement with the next rachet tooth, causes said spring to loosen thereby uncoupling said drive and stamp transport rotors.

2. A stamp dispensing device as in claim 1 including a stamp carrier spool coaxially disposed with at least a part of said stamp transport rotor and coupled therewith, said stamp carrier spool including means for engaging and transporting stamps on the surface thereof.

3. Apparatus for holding and dispensing stamps including a wrap-spring clutch mechanism for selectively coupling and uncoupling a stamp pay-out spool from a rotary drive source, said wrap-spring clutch mechanism including a rachet wheel connected with the clutch wrap-spring for selectively loosening the wrap-spring to uncouple said pay-out s'pool from said rotary drive source, and wherein the improvement comprises:

a. a bifurcated escapement mechanism having a first arm which is normally biased into circumferentially following engagement with said rachet wheel and when in engagement with a rachet tooth acts to loosen said clutch wrap-spring to maintain the payout spool uncoupled from the drive source, and whose second arm is normally biased out of engagement with the rachet wheel;

b. means for tempo. irily pivoting said escapement mechanism so that amid first arm is out of engagement with said rachet wheel to allow said wrapspring to wind into tight engagementwith said stamp pay-out spool and with said drive source to couple the same and so that said second arm is 7 moved into circumferentially following engagement with the rachet wheel; and

c. whereby said stamp pay-out spool is uncoupled from said drive source by engagement of said second arm with the next subsequent rachet tooth, if the escapement mechanism is not pivoted to its normal position prior thereto.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said pivoting means comprises a solenoid actuator.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said stamp payout spool includes a stamp transport rotor and a stamp carrier spool coaxially disposed therewith, and wherein said stamp transport rotor and stamp carrier spool are coupled to rotate together.

6. Apparatus for holding and dispensing stamps in-- cluding a wrap-spring clutch mechanism for selectively coupling and uncoupling a stamp pay-out spool from a rotary drive source, said wrap-spring clutch mechanism including a rachet wheel connected with the clutch wrap-spring for selectively loosening the wrap-spring to uncouple said pay-out spool from said rotary drive source and wherein the improvement comprises:

a. a control arm normally biased into circumferentially following engagement with said rachet wheel and, when in engagement with a rachet tooth, looses said clutch wrap-spring to uncouple the payout spool from the drive source;

b. an actuator for temporarily moving said control arm out of engagement with said rachet wheel to couple said stamp 'pay-out spool with said drive source; and

c. escapement means for preventing rotation of said pay-out spool more than the angle subtended by adjacent rachet teeth for each actuation of said actuator. 

1. In a stamp dispensing device including means for holding a plurality of stamps, a drive motor, a stamp transport rotor, a drive rotor coupled with said motor, a shaft for supporting said drive and transport rotors about a common axis and a wrap-spring clutch for selectively coupling the drive rotor with the stamp transport rotor, and wherein the wrap-spring clutch comprises: a. a helical spring co-axially aligned with said drive and stamp transport rotors, having one end secured to said stamp transport rotor and wherein rotation of said drive rotor tightens said spring about said drive and stamp transport rotors thereby coupling said drive and stamp transport rotors; b. an annular member axially aligned with said rotors and said spring and having a plurality of rachet teeth upon the outer circumference thereof and wherein the other end of said spring is secured thereto; c. a pivotally mounted control member having first and second arms, said control member being biased to slidably engage said first arm with the circumference of said annular member and to have said second arm out of engagement with the circumference of said annular member; and whereby engagement of said first arm with one of said rachet teeth causes said spring to loosen thereby uncoupling said drive and stamp transport rotors; d. an actuator comprising a solenoid having a movable core; e. means for connecting said control arm to said movable core such that when said solenoid is momentarily energized, said first arm is pivoted, against the force of the bias, out of engagement with the annular member rachet teeth allowing coupling of the drive and stamp transport rotors, said bias returning said first arm into slidable engagement with said annular member after de-energization of said solenoid and, upon engagement with the next rachet tooth, causes de-coupling of said drive and stamp transport rotors; and f. wherein energization of said solenoid causes said second arm to pivot and slidably engage the circumference of said annular member and, if not pivoted back to its original position upon engagement with the next rachet tooth, causes said spring to loosen thereby uncoupling said drive and stamp transport rotors.
 2. A stamp dispensing device as in claim 1 including a stamp carrier spool coaxially disposed with at least a part of said stamp transport rotor and coupled therewith, said stamp carrier spool including means for engaging and transporting stamps on the surface thereof.
 3. Apparatus for holding and dispensing stamps including a wrap-spring clutch mechanism for selectively coupling and uncoupling a stamp pay-out spool from a rotary drive source, said wrap-spring clutch mechanism including a rachet wheel connected with the clutch wrap-spring for selectively loosening the wrap-spring to uncouple said pay-out spool from said rotary drive source, and wherein the improvement comprises: a. a bifurcated escapement mechanism having a first arm which is normally biased into circumferentially following engagement with said rachEt wheel and when in engagement with a rachet tooth acts to loosen said clutch wrap-spring to maintain the pay-out spool uncoupled from the drive source, and whose second arm is normally biased out of engagement with the rachet wheel; b. means for temporarily pivoting said escapement mechanism so that said first arm is out of engagement with said rachet wheel to allow said wrap-spring to wind into tight engagement with said stamp pay-out spool and with said drive source to couple the same and so that said second arm is moved into circumferentially following engagement with the rachet wheel; and c. whereby said stamp pay-out spool is uncoupled from said drive source by engagement of said second arm with the next subsequent rachet tooth, if the escapement mechanism is not pivoted to its normal position prior thereto.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said pivoting means comprises a solenoid actuator.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said stamp pay-out spool includes a stamp transport rotor and a stamp carrier spool coaxially disposed therewith, and wherein said stamp transport rotor and stamp carrier spool are coupled to rotate together.
 6. Apparatus for holding and dispensing stamps including a wrap-spring clutch mechanism for selectively coupling and uncoupling a stamp pay-out spool from a rotary drive source, said wrap-spring clutch mechanism including a rachet wheel connected with the clutch wrap-spring for selectively loosening the wrap-spring to uncouple said pay-out spool from said rotary drive source and wherein the improvement comprises: a. a control arm normally biased into circumferentially following engagement with said rachet wheel and, when in engagement with a rachet tooth, looses said clutch wrap-spring to uncouple the pay-out spool from the drive source; b. an actuator for temporarily moving said control arm out of engagement with said rachet wheel to couple said stamp pay-out spool with said drive source; and c. escapement means for preventing rotation of said pay-out spool more than the angle subtended by adjacent rachet teeth for each actuation of said actuator. 